Francis Bacon (1561 — 1626), René Descartes (1596 — 1650), Baruch Spinoza (1632 — 1677)

The 17th century rejected the world views derived from the Greeks. Bacon emphasised a practical not a contemplative approach to nature. He proposed torturing nature to obtain her secrets. Descartes’ statement ‘I think therefore I am’ includes all the inner life, feelings and willing etc. The source of all knowledge is in the mind. Like Descartes Spinoza’s thought was shaped by the New Science. But for him philosophy begins with what is ontological and logical prior I.e. with the divine and nature. These are one.